Reincarnation NPC, but Arknights

However, the speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart.

Bai Ye's words silenced everyone at Penguin Logistics.

What kind of life did this guy live in the past?

Chapter Nineteen: Public Beta Countdown

Bai Ye didn't sleep well.

The game panel's notification sound woke him from his sleep.

【Ding--】

[Arknights Online Open Beta Countdown: 31:59:58]

[Test Version: beta]

Bai Ye drew back the curtains, his eyes reflecting the light emanating from the game system panel, a light only he could see.

On the panel, the countdown was still ticking.

The open beta test, which will run for 24 hours without data wipe, will begin tomorrow at 8:00 AM Terra time. The test area includes Earth, the Moon, and near-Earth orbit floating cities.

Although he had prepared himself mentally, Bai Ye did not expect the public beta to come so quickly. He originally thought it would take at least a month.

The release of Arknights Online is destined to cause a huge stir, because there hasn't been a new fully immersive game released for over a year.

I'm dying because I have no new games to play.

As we all know, one of the selling points of fully immersive games is their realism. Therefore, in the early days, various game developers added a large number of 18+ elements to their games in order to attract players. At first, everyone was somewhat restrained, and most of them were visually impactful but not playable; however, later the "arms race" became more and more intense, and the industry competition reached an unbelievable level, and finally the visual impact was transformed into a tactile impact.

They really took that step!

Emerging industries lack regulation, leading to rampant chaos and eventually spiraling out of control. Netizens have created various humorous memes to satirize this situation, such as:

The full-dive game you've always imagined: SAO (2022)

A true full-dive game: Cyber ​​Jerry

……

Finally, the Earth Alliance took decisive action, halting the development of all fully immersive games. The release of this type of game must undergo a strict approval process and be rated to ensure the physical and mental health of minors.

The full-dive gaming industry was plunged into a year-long period of stagnation and rectification, known as the "Ice Age".

This upheaval even affected other industries. According to online rumors, experts and geniuses from all walks of life were summoned to the central city of the Pan-Asian region for a six-month closed-door seminar.

Due to the confidentiality agreement, no one knows what these people discussed or did—in any case, a year later, Arknights Online was released.

Because of this closed-door seminar where the authenticity of the information could not be determined, some people have been stirring up trouble online, claiming that Ark Online was actually a large-scale human experiment by the Earth Alliance.

There are even rumors that the Earth Federation's high command has been brainwashed by alien lizardmen, and that all players are experimental subjects...

In any case, the arrival of Arknights Online is a cause for celebration.

……

'The internet must be buzzing with activity right now,'

After such a long hiatus, a brand-new, high-quality, 100% realistic fully immersive game has suddenly appeared. This groundbreaking title is definitely a heavyweight.

No wonder it's jokingly called "the first one for young people".

Bai Ye stared at the countdown timer flashing on the game panel in front of him and fell into deep thought.

In his past life, he was also a part of this celebration. Unfortunately, he was unlucky and didn't manage to get a spot in the public beta test, so he could only watch the live stream to satisfy his craving while waiting for the official 1.0 version.

Unexpectedly, he has now become a native of the "game," or an NPC in the eyes of the players.

It's so easy to be tricked by soap.

With a sigh, Bai Ye couldn't fall asleep either, so he got up and went to his desk to start writing and drawing.

In just over a day, he will have to face players from Earth. These newbies, who are still quite green and cute, may not be very noticeable right now, but after a few versions, they will grow up and become an undeniable force on the land of Terra.

Bai Ye wanted to make a deep impression on the players right from the start.

For him, this was like a meticulously prepared performance. After all, Bai Ye believed he had a clear advantage over the Terra natives—no one understood players better than him!

--------------------------

At 4 PM, Bai Ye received a notification from Rhodes Island's Lungmen office that Rhodes Island's dispatched operators would arrive in Lungmen the next day.

"Mr. Bai Ye, please come to the office tomorrow morning. Our dispatched agent will arrive tomorrow." The receptionist's gentle voice came from the other end of the terminal. She was speaking Common Tongue, but with a slight Lungmen accent, which was quite cute.

"I understand." Bai Ye put down the terminal. He was now sitting at the workbench, maintaining the light crossbow he had taken from the Penguin Logistics safe house.

The Emperor seemed to tacitly allow him to keep the equipment he had "purchased for free" from the stronghold, and did not demand its return.

Bai Ye simply didn't mention the matter again; he was genuinely lacking equipment.

In his previous life, the last weapon he used was obtained through battle merits—a large number of battle merits allowed him to ask the people of Tianji Tower to find a giant beast incarnation to forge a sword for him.

He even obtained a "forbidden-level" special weapon from Rhine Lab's weapons development department.

"By the way, Mr. Bai Ye, although I think you should already know about the special nature of our company, before that, I would still like to ask your opinion on infected people." The young woman's tone became serious on the other end of the phone.

Upon hearing this, Bai Ye replied without hesitation, "I don't have any particular opinion. In my view, they are no different from us. It's just that some of them need our help because they are sick."

……

After a moment of silence, the receptionist on the other end of the terminal said, "Please be prepared. The operator who will be traveling with you in Lungmen tomorrow is an infected person."

"Since you haven't officially joined Rhodes Island yet, it can't be considered a joint operation. However, our office manager is very happy that a kind citizen of Lungmen is willing to help us. We will communicate with that operator after she arrives."

"Okay, I understand. By the way, could you tell me the arrival time of that operator?" Bai Ye asked.

"Around 8 a.m., in District 5 of Longmen."

After confirming the time, Bai Ye shut down the terminal communication. Looking at the terminal in his hand, he fell into deep thought.

The timing is quite coincidental.

It's also 8 o'clock, so it seems he can go directly to the port area to pick someone up.

Because this operator is infected, they need to go through the quarantine area at the Lungmen Port entrance.

The login location for players in the public beta is the port in Lungmen District 5.

It looks like tomorrow will be very interesting.

Chapter Twenty: The Players!!!

The next morning, Bai Ye couldn't sleep again.

He originally thought that a seasoned player like himself, having experienced so much, would have been tempered by all sorts of situations and would have a very stable mentality.

But unexpectedly, he now seems to be just like those newbies at the start of the game, filled with anticipation.

In fact, even Bai Ye herself couldn't understand this strange emotion.

He originally thought he was looking forward to the public beta test so he could test his NPC template.

But he now realizes that what he was actually looking forward to was meeting other players. He longed to meet "kindred spirits."

Even though he had obtained a legitimate identity in this world, and even though he could survive on the real Terra with ease thanks to his six-year gaming career, deep down he still viewed this world from the perspective and viewpoint of a player.

This is the arrogance of a time traveler, or rather, a gamer.

Bai Ye's heart was conflicted. On one hand, he knew that this world was real and that the so-called NPCs were all flesh-and-blood beings. On the other hand, his long gaming experience had created a disconnect between him and this world.

Therefore, at the start of the game, he will instinctively choose the most dangerous and lawless action plan—whether it's making a free purchase or storming the Dragon Gate Guardian Bureau, it reflects the player's way of thinking. Too risky, and crazy.

After closing the game panel, Bai Ye went to the training ground to practice his swordsmanship.

Mechanical training is beneficial for venting emotions and adjusting mindset. Back then, when he encountered unpleasant things, he would simply grind monsters for a whole day, wiping out the Originium Bugs in the entire area.

Half an hour later, he gradually calmed down. After washing up in his room, he set off for the port in Lungmen District 5.

-------------------------------------

This day is destined to be remembered by history.

At 8:00 AM Terra time, the already precarious fate of Terra will veer in an unpredictable direction. The entire world line will shift.

Players from another world have descended upon this land that has suffered so much.

They cannot be killed.

They find it hard to understand.

They are born with a desire for power and a thirst for strength.

They may be weak now, but they possess a power. This power will eventually change this land.

Sometimes they call themselves the "Fourth Calamity," and they are indeed as unpredictable as natural disasters.

……

Well, no matter what you say, it can't hide the fact that this group of people are silly and goofy.

This group seems a bit abnormal, they all seem to be quite sick.

For example, they like to be unconventional and will walk openly on the street wearing some very strange clothes. These bizarre outfits, which are ahead of fashion trends and modern art for hundreds of years, would be considered odd even on Requiem Night, but they don't care about other people's opinions at all.

For example, most of their names are strange; some are childish and arrogant, some are extremely long, some are particularly stupid, and some skirt the line, filled with strange profanities and sexual innuendo. Even the more "normal" ones don't seem like names that normal parents would choose.

Sometimes they seem foolish—they squander LMD on meaningless things, and they like to do free work and meddle in other people's business for a pittance.

These guys appear and disappear unpredictably, like ghosts. They love adventure and are passionate about fighting. However, whether they are fighting or adventuring, most of them talk in a lot of nonsense that no one can understand.

In short, they're a bunch of weirdos.

The various kingdoms and powers of Terra never anticipated the immense trouble these strange individuals would cause them...

-------------------------------------

[Passed psychological test]

[Earth Federation reminds you: Gaming is not a lawless zone. Please play in a civilized, green, and healthy manner.]

Welcome to Arknights Online, current version: beta.

[Attempting to establish a mental connection with Terra]

0%-60%-100%

【welcome!】

"Akunaichi!"

As the last, inexplicably cute low Gothic words drifted into her ears, the girl with the ID "Homebody Cat Doesn't Pigeon" on her head opened her eyes and found herself in an open field.

Am I in a game?

【Homebody Cat Doesn't Give Up】Looked at her hands, paused for a moment, and then reached out to touch the ears on her head.

hairy.

Good heavens, I have four ears!

[Homebody Cat Doesn't Give Up] is extremely shocked. This game can absolutely crush those games that used to claim to be 100% realistic and fully immersive!

The virtual character's body feels completely natural to operate, almost like a real human body.

If it weren't for the game menu and live stream interface hanging on the side, [ZhaiMaoBuGe] might really not be able to distinguish between the game and reality.

The cat stood there stunned, while the comments section exploded.

[MC is the best: Wow, the sky, the ground, the city... it smells like graphics cards.]

[No room in the trash can: Upstairs, you should just kill yourself. What era are we living in? Still keeping a graphics card there? Don't embarrass yourself.]

[Bai Mobai: Are those cat ears real? I'm curious about the structure of the tail.]

[Grandma Starseeker: Those four ears are so realistic!]

[Luo Tianyi Catches Ghosts: Is the cat crazy? By the way, can you take off your skirt...and change clothes in this game?]

[WaterWaterWaterMoon: Enough with the pants-dropping party! Do you even know what healthy, green gaming is?]

The barrage of comments scrolled wildly, with various reward effects flying all over the screen. Only SC comments could stay in front of the streamer for a while.

That's right, Zhai Mao is a streamer on the Bilibili (Bilibili is short for Bilibili) live streaming platform. She used to be just a small streamer, but because she was lucky enough to win the public beta qualification, her live stream room was flooded with a large number of viewers.